Lisbon, Portugal attractions that are a must visit

Panoramic views, tile-covered facades, and pastéis de nata.

Lisbon, the legendary Portuguese city, has become a very popular place, drawing visitors from all over the world with its beautiful architecture, historic sites, food, and it’s sunny days. The ancient city is famous for the many Miradouros, where locals enjoy sprawling views over Lisbon.

Most of the Miradouros have a little café where you can sit down, enjoy an Aperol Spritz, and soak in the cool vibe of Lisbon – a must do for anyone visiting the city. Below are just some of the sites you must visit when in Lisbon, but don’t forget to slow down and lets the hours meander by in one of its Miradouros.

Se Cathedral

Built in 1147, Se Cathedral is the oldest and most important Roman Catholic Cathedral in Lisbon. The different architectural styles – Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque – of Se Cathedral are because it survived several natural disasters, including the notorious 1775 earthquake, which forced the city to restore many times over. Classified as a National Monument since 1910, Se Cathedral looks like a medieval fortress given its thick wall and two bell towers.

Inside the cathedral there is the fountain where Saint Anthony of Padua was baptized, along with a 14th century gothic chapel and 14th-century sarcophagi. You can also visit the cloister where remains of its Roman, Arab, and Medieval past can be found, and also a balcony featuring nice views of Lisbon and river. To get to Se Cathedral you can ride the iconic tram 28 which will leave you a few steps from the Cathedral.

Alfama

Alfama is the quintessential quaint neighborhood in Lisbon. Located at the foot of the Castelo de São Jorge, dotted with panoramic viewpoints (miradouros), charming and cobbled streets and colorful facades; giving the neighborhood it’s relaxed vibe. Alfama is also the birthplace of Fado, the most famous genre of Portuguese music which tugs at your heartstrings with its melancholic melodies. In Alfama, make sure to take the opportunity to grab a good cup of coffee, or a nice adult beverage, while enjoying wonderful views over Lisbon. Don’t forget to grab something delicious to eat as well.

There are lots trendy shops which you can purchase typical stuff from Portugal – all those tiled souvenirs and boutique clothing. To get to Alfama, take the famous tram 28 which will leave you at the top of Alfama or put on comfy sneakers and be prepared to get a good sweat. I suggest that after visiting the top sights you just get lost in its charming streets and enjoy the charm that this neighborhood radiates.

Read blog: Alfama, Lisbon Portugal: Best things to see and do

Castelo de São Jorge

Perched high above the city, as it is located on the highest hill in Lisbon, the Castelo de São Jorge is an icon seen from many parts of Lisbon. In the 5th century, a small fortress was constructed by the Visigoths which was then expanded by the Moors in the mid-eleventh century. The appearance of the castle as it looks today started during the reign of Afonso I of Portugal.

Inside the Castelo’s walls you can visit a museum, towers, and a moat. We paid 13 euros (in April 2023) to enter this attraction which makes the Castelo de São Jorge the most expensive attraction in Lisbon. However, it’s well worth it as there is plenty to see and panoramic views over Lisbon. One thing you wont expect is the legions of peacocks basking in the castle’s shade on hot days.

As expected, the Castelo de São Jorge attracts a lot of tourists so the lines can get long. We visited it during the late afternoon and thankfully there weren’t too many people.

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Miradouro das Portas do Sol

This viewpoint was one of my favorites. We actually stayed in a hotel located ½ block away so we visited it quite a few times to take in the panoramic view featuring colorful roofs and the towers of the Monastery of St. Vincent and the dome of the National Pantheon in the background. You will probably recognize this view which is featured in several postcards so this is a location that you must photograph. This viewpoint is located in the Alfama neighborhood and very close to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia.

Miradouro da Graça

In my opinion the Miradouro da Graça has one of the best views of the Castelo de São Jorge. You’ll see many locals meet to enjoy a drink in the shade of the pine trees, while enjoying panoramic views of the Tagus river, the orange rooftops of the city and the Castelo de São Jorge on the left.

Take advantage of stopping by this viewpoint during your visit to Alfama and the Castelo, it’s a great pitstop to rest while you are navigating the notorious Lisbon hills. If you decide to avoid the steep walk, take tram 28 and get off at the “Graça” stop. The Miradouro da Graça is close to the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (where some locals usually put on an adhoc musical performance), which shouldn’t be missed either.

Elevador de Santa Justa

This is a perfect example of post-Eiffel iron architecture, where the metal bends to the whims of the designer. The Elevador de Santa Justa, one of the most unique structures in the city, is one of Lisbon’s transportation systems to navigate its hills.

The elevator is also the fastest way to take you from the Baixa district to the Lago do Carmo. Standing at 147 feet (45 meters) tall, the Elevador de Santa Justa takes you to an observation deck with has panoramic views of the whole city and a perfect angle of the imposing specter of Castelo de São Jorge. If you don’t want to pay the fee to take the Elevador de Santa Justa you can still reach the panoramic terrace located behind the Convento do Carmo.

Arco da Rua Augusta

Located in Lisbon’s Praça do Comércio, the Arco da Rua Augusta is a historical monument which symbolizes the city’s rebirth after the 1755 tragedy that the natural disasters leveled at Lisbon.

It can be found at the end of Rua Augusta which is the city’s main pedestrian street but it faces Comércio Square. Only 35 people can visit the top at a time but we didn’t see any lines so it’s not (yet) a popular attraction. You can visit the top of this iconic buildings (the entrance is a bit hidden and easily missed) to get 360° panoramic views views of the Baixa district and the Tagus river.

Ascensor da Bica

The nineteenth century Ascensor da Bica is the most photographed funicular in Lisbon. Get ready to find lots of people holding the cameras eagerly waiting for the tram to ride between Rua de São Paulo and Largo do Calhariz which lead up to the Bairro Alto and Bica neighborhoods.

While the ascent is only a few meters, it’s located on one of the steepest hills in Lisbon, so I suggest you ride the picturesque funiculars. This is definitely an beautiful trip with colorful houses dotting the streets and the Tagus river in the background. The Ascensor da Bica has been considered a national monument since 2022 – and don’t forget to photograph it from different angles.

Convento do Carmo

The ruins of the Convento do Carmo are also a key attraction to visit. In 1775, an earthquake destroyed most of the city and made the roof of the convent collapse on the congregation attending mass on that fatal day. Even though the convent was never rebuilt, the Gothic arches still stand.

The location where the main altar was now houses a small archaeological museum with an eclectic collection of pieces from all periods of Portuguese history. Expect to find tombs, ceramics and mosaics, an Egyptian mummy and two South American mummies form Peru.

The Convento do Carmo was undergoing some renovations while we visited so we couldn’t take the photo we wanted. However it’s still very photogenic and there is a very good shot from the Elevador de Santa Justa that captures the back of the convent.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

Standing on the banks of the river Tagus in Lisbon, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a monument commemorating the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator, who discovered Cape Verde, and the islands of the Azores and Madeira.

The Padrão dos Descobrimentos is 170 feet tall and is close to the Tower of Belem and the Jerónimos Monastery. The monument symbolizes a caravel headed by Henry the Navigator who is followed by 32 leading figures from the Era of the Discoveries including Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares and Fernando Magellan. There are exhibitions rooms and an observation deck at the top with views of the city. You can either climb the stairs or take the elevator.

While this place will get packed, along with Belém Tower, it’s an absolute must see while you are in town.

Belém Tower

The Belém Tower is a 16th-century fortification which was originally built do defend Lisbon, it was then turned into a Lisbon and then a customs center for individuals arriving in the city. It is classified as a World Heritage Site (Portugal has many!) since 1983 and is a great example of the Manueline style of architecture that was very common in the early sixteenth-century in Portugal.

The Belém Tower has 5 floors – the Governor’s Hall, the Kings’ Hall, the Audience Hall, the Chapel, and a roof terrace offering views of the Tagus river. You can also see the pits where prisoners were thrown into. Since this is an iconic building expect long lines and tourist buses parked next to each other. After your visit, you can walk to the pastry shop that first sold the legendary pastéis de nata, Lisbon’s most famous baked treat.

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Pastéis de nata

Portugal is well-known for its pastéis de nata – an egg custard tart pastry, that you will probably see at most of the bakery shops. It seems that these pastries were created before the 18th century by Catholic monks. During these time, the monasteries used large quantities of egg-whites for starching clothes so they had plenty of yolk leftovers to make pastries, and this is how the pastéis de nata were born. Since we were in Belem, we visited the Pastéis de Belém, a very popular bakery for selling these pastries.

The line was crazy long, but since it’s a huge place we were seated in 10-15 minutes so the wait ended up not being so painful. The pastéis de nata are delicious but to be honest I found them quite filling – I ate one and that was enough for me. If you want to take a cool photo, there is a wall of azulejos outside the Pastéis de Belém, that you can use as a background to photograph the pastéis de nata.

After eating your fill, it’s time to brave the lines and visit Jerónimos Monastery.

Jerónimos Monastery

The Jerónimos Monastery, also called Hieronymites Monastery, is a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome in the Belem neighborhood of Lisbon. Built in 1500, the Jerónimos Monastery is a great example of the Portuguese Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In addition to visiting the cloister and the gardens, you can also visit the tombs of Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões.

We tried going twice but didn’t succeed as the lines were extremely long, and were very slow in advancing. There are two lines – one for presold tickets, and one for purchasing on the spot. To be honest, both lines went around the block. The second time we purchased the tickets in advance, but it seems everyone had done the same.

After spending 45 minutes in line with the sun beaming on top of our heads we gave up. My advice is that you get there very early in the morning, and by early in the morning I mean before it opens its doors, and be prepared to wait. This is a very popular attraction and there are plenty of buses full of tourists. An alternative is to take a tour – I’m sure you will be able to get inside much faster.

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